Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-10-15

AAN VI OkAf oWA AShO. w uuL INIT
breadth escspesi What romantic incidentsl
Madam had no suspicion. She watched for
the arrival of the letters; she had them read
and reread to her; she learned them ali by
heart; she quoted them as admirable speci-
mems of the best modern style; she dated
events from incidents in the letters.
They were all victorious in those DAYS,
Surely there was never q time when q nation
was SO brave as in the time of that long war,
There was no note OF hesitation then-no
timid counsels. Girl as I was, I gloried in
the spirit of the country, when, with one
| consent, the nation few to arms to resist the
threatened invasion. Every day after break
fast I read aloud The Morning Post, especially
! that portion Of tho paper which gave the
| naval intelligence.
One morning I read tho news of the battle
of Trafalgar.
The list of casualties would be published
in a few days. John Huntspill aud l went
about with heavy hearts. He did not dare
to meet my eyes, for his Portsmouth CORE
spondent;had found out that all four were on
board the Victory.
We had Examinations III the city to cele-
brate the event on the Day of Rejoicing. We
drove i'll state to church to offer up our far
from humble Offering; we invited guests fo,.
u feast of thanksgiving; we sent money fol.
the poor in token of gratitude, and we gave
orders tina. the rcjoicings of the house of
Campion & Co. should excel in splendor those
CT every Other private house. The front OF
the house was covered over with q trellis
work, OH which were fixed thousands of oil
lamps Of different c%olors, arranged in patri-
otto designs. In the center was the lion and
unicorn, with the words s'God save King
GeorgeI" Above was the union jack, with
the legend Honor to the glorious dead!n 1
drew out the plan by madam's Instructions.
She thought me wanting in enthusiasm and
delivered n little speech on the part which
should be borne by women in tho glory of
their country. Above all, she said-her
words fell upon ME as q bad omen-abovc all,
women must be ready, for the sake of their
country, to imperil without a murlnur the
lives of husbands, lovers or SOUS.
On the morning of this joyful day John
Huntspill, i'll paying his daily visit to madam,
handed me quietly u letter. 1t was addressed
to mel had seen the writing once before, in
the parish register-by the rector of Rousdon.
Could it lie from Will? l FASTENED away and
tore it open with trembling fingers. 1t was
not from Will. 1t was from Dan CULVER,
and it was the saddest letter that ever q girl
received.
my DEAR PRETTY" said poor old Dan)-
W. have made the port Of Portsmouth, with
the admiral aboard i'll his coffin. Jephthah
was killed in the action with q round shot,
Which cut him in two pieces. My poor,
pretty Pleasance! don't cry too much, but
Mr.. Campion fell overheard on the way
home, and is consequently drowned. This is
bad news for you, l am afraid, and for me
too. job sends his love, and he says he is
alive, and lie wishes it bad been him. Your
aftectlonate DAN CULVER"
1hat Is the news which greeted me on the
day of illumination for the victory of Ira
falgar.
My governees came to me. l sent her away
with some excuse and sat down by myself,
saying over and over again, SO that I should
be able to feel the whole bitterness of despair:
Twill is drowned! Will is drowned. We
shall never see him gaini;'
John Huntspiil came III search of nc. He
saw BY my face whathad happened. He took
the letter from my fingers and read it. Poor
Pleasance! he SAID. Poor, poor child"
think he must have sut with me all that
morning. l know he talked from time to
time, but l forget what he said. Presently 1
began to understand something. " must
not let madam know he repeated. '.she
must never know. We will prepare q letter
from-froln her sou'-he paused, and for q
moment his voice broke-'stating that he is
going IN some expedition up the country;
and then no more letters at all will come
afterward and you will mourn together-you
and his mother. But she must never know
her sons real end"
Had l had my will l would AVE gone
straight to madam and told her all. But it
seemed more merciful that she should be
spared the details. which he wished his mother
never to KNOW.
"For his sake, PIeasance," urged John
Huntspill, sfor his sake he brave; keep your
heart before her. Let not my lady's pride,
as well as her heart, be broken. She must
never know. For his sake she must never
know"
He wouldspot leave me till l promised that
l would do my best. During the rejolcings
l too would seem to rejoice.
Oh, heavy day! Oh, day which seemed as
if it would never pass! At l l was called to
luncheon with madam. She was in excel
lent spirits, happier than I had ever known
her. Presently she asked sharply: what is
the matter, Pleasaucea You are crying.n
Il was thinking, madam" I sobbed, "of
the brave fellows who are killed"
"Yes, but there is a time to mourn and q
time to rejoice. You were thinking, my
child, of my son." did not answer. Come
to me, Pleasance." She was sitting after
luncheon in her arm chair beside the window.
"Come to me-"
knelt at her feet and buried my head in
her lap.
ID is a long time away, is he not! But l
write to my son and tell him about you,
child. When I wrote bin last I sent him
word that l would not oppose his desire.
Yes, P~leasance, l have watched you more
narrowly than you know. You will make
my son happy. Take my blessing, my DEAR"
She laid her hand upon my head solemnly.
All, If she knew-if she only knew!
In the evening, at $50, VIC had u great dim
ner, which lasted until $3.50, and then we all
sailed forth, including madam, into the
street, protected by q body guard Of the
houses porters armed with stout cudgels.
The streets were full Of people. shouting,